THE CVTTmG-ANT OF TEXAS. 235 



live in Texas. One summer I visited that State to 

 make some studies upon a certain ant," 



''Does tliee mean to say," interrupted Aunt Han- 

 nah, "that thee went all that distance, two thousand 

 miles, just to study a single insect ?" 



"Certainly he did," the Mistress answered, "in the 

 blazing heat of summer, too. He lived like an Indian, 

 worked like a negro, spent no one knows how much 

 money for traveling, outlit, wages, etc., then fell to 

 work and wrote and published his book at his own ex- 

 pense, all for the sake of one miserable little ant that 

 stings like a wasp, and is a nuisance in Texas harvest 

 lields. You wouldn't ask such a question. Aunt Han- 

 nah, if you knew the naturalists better. Why, they 

 are the veriest race of Paul Prys I ever saw. Talk 

 about the curiosity of women ! I don't believe there's 

 a woman in Christendom that would go through so 

 much labor, danger and expense just to peek and pry 

 into the secrets of an ant-hill. But, there ! Excuse 

 me, dear, I fear this is an outbreak of the old- 

 fashioned prejudice. You know I am now only too 

 happy to see you busy among your Inigs." 



The company had a hearty laugh at the Mistress's 

 somewhat vivid portraiture of a naturalist, in which I 

 joined with zest. 



"I shall not be oftended," I said, "at such good- 

 natured truth-telling as that. I assure you that I 

 think none the loss of myself for that old-time infotua- 

 tion. Moreover, I cordially agree with the conclusion 

 of the matter. Men are more curious than women 



